Drawer bottoms

I want to build a bowed front hall table and was wondering what I should use in the bottom of the drawer. In the past I have used lauan ply or hardboard. But on a piece of furniture that I want to last for a long time, what should I use? David

5 replies so far

Hi David,I suggest using plywood of the same species that the table was built from.Many of the lumber dealers will sell a 1/2 or 1/4 sheet of plywood.It sounds like a nice table…please post pictures when it finished.

David, I am with Keith on this. I generally make my drawer components out of 1/2” maple and use either 1/4 or 1/2 inch birch or maple plywood for the drawer bottoms depending on strength that I think I am going to need in the drawer.

-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine

David,
I have a little different take on this. I have repaired and refinished many well built pieces of antique furniture and in almost every case the craftsmen used a secondary wood like yellow pine for dust panels and drawers. I have used Cherry and Walnut to make drawer sides, backs and bottoms, but feel it is a waist of material.

We have a good source of quality yellow pine here and that is what I use most often for drawers with a 1/4 inch A/C or a hand selected piece of luan for a bottom. These materials are is strong and durable and do not detract form the quality of the project. I hand select the pine and plywood I am going to use.

I have also made drawer bottoms for dimensional lumber. It required more time and the result was no real improvement over plywood, because of the plywood’s improved stability and strength.

-- Terry Roswell, L.A. (Lower Alabama) "Life is what happens to you when you are making other plans."